76-year-old Greek director Theo Angelopoulos, not a household name in the U.S. but widely appreciated in his home country and along the European festival circuit for more than 40 years, died earlier today after being hit by a motorcycle while crossing a road near Athens during the shooting of his latest film. Though Angelopoulos’ 1998 (read…)

There was a time when I’d get up at 5am to hear these announced live, but I’m glad I slept in. Having said that, there were some very nice surprises in here that on balance outweigh the unexpected snubs. I’m thrilled and delighted that Tree of Life (3 nominations), War Horse (6 nominations) and Midnight (read…)

Ethan Frome (1993) directed by John Madden from the novel by Edith Wharton Liam Neeson as Ethan Frome and Patricia Arquette as Mattie Silver Mattie (as a church bell sounds in the distance): If I miss my train, where will I go? Ethan: Where are you goin’ if you catch it?

For those of you keeping score at home, I predict I’ll be the least accurate in the Actor and Supporting Actor categories. I threw in Michael Fassbender and Michael Shannon mostly as wishful thinking. For Supporting Actor I threw in Ben Kingsley because he made the movie in my opinion. As for Andy Serkis, it (read…)

Cuban filmmaker Ian Padron’s Habanastation was Cuba’s submission for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film this year. Although the film wasn not ultimately shortlisted by the Academy, Padron used the opportunity of being submitted to stage an independently-funded tour of the Los Angeles Film circuit, hosting screenings around town, including one hosted by Oscar-winner (read…)

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) directed by George Clooney Sam Rockwell as Chuck Barris Chuck Barris (in voiceover): When you’re young, your potential is infinite. You might do anything really. You might be Einstein. You might be DiMaggio. Then you get to an age when which you might be gives way to what you (read…)

Once again, not much to report on the week in movies. Sundance is cooking along and the awards race is still steaming forward (with The Artist clearly in the lead), but things are still mostly quiet in theaters themselves. One thing I had my eye on this weekend was how The Artist would do as (read…)

The Hustler (1961) directed by Robert Rossen Piper Laurie as Sarah Packard and Paul Newman as “Fast” Eddie Felson Eddie: You talk kinda funny, but I like it. Sarah: I used to be an actress. Eddie: Oh yeah? What do you do now? Sarah: I’m a college girl. Two days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays (read…)

The Train (1964) directed by John Frankenheimer Paul Scofield as Colonel von Waldheim Von Waldheim: Here’s your prize, Labiche. Some of the greatest paintings in the world. Does it please you, Labiche? Give you a sense of excitement in just being near them? A painting means as much to you as a string of pearls to (read…)

Chinese writer/producer/director Yimou Zhang has proven himself time and time again to be one of the world’s most accomplished and consistently excellent filmmakers, hitting a career zenith his past decade with the Oscar-nominated films Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and Curse of the Golden Flower. The Flowers of War is his greatest achievement, a sweeping epic of a film (read…)

In addition to the new openings below, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is opening in wide release while We Need to Talk About Kevin comes to LA. If neither of these nor none of the below interest you, be sure to check out the Now Playing page for an extensive listing of what’s notable in (read…)

Director Gerardo Naranjo on the set of Miss Bala Today, Fox Searchlight International releases Miss Bala, a film that has created controversy throughout the global festival circuit since its Cannes Film Festival premiere last May. It’s the story of an impoverished young woman named Laura (played by Stephanie Sigman) who hopes to use a beauty (read…)

There’s no movie tie-in here, though James tunes are a staple of film soundtracks and Beyonce Knowles once played the singer in the film Cadillac Records. It doesn’t matter. She was a giant and she will be remembered. Obits: Newsday CNN Sun-Times Guardian

Some Like it Hot (1959) directed by Billy Wilder Tony Curtis as Joe and Jack Lemmon as Jerry. Joe: Will you quit stalling? We’re gonna miss the train. Jerry: I feel naked! I feel like everybody’s staring at me. Joe: With those legs? Are you crazy? Now, come on!

Looking over Terence Stamp’s filmmography, it’s unfortunate he has had many great roles since he hit a home run in Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey. Sure he’s been working steadily and has turned up in some big projects, but he gave a hell of a performance in the Soderbergh flick and it should’ve led to bigger (read…)

While she continues to show little interest in writing and starring in a Bridesmaids 2 (a decision I applaud whole-heartedly if it sticks), Kristen Wiig is nevertheless lining up another possible big studio project in the form of Ben Stiller’s remake of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. If she signs, she’ll play one of (read…)

Top 10 The Artist A Separation Drive Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy The Tree of Life We Need to Talk About Kevin Melancholia Shame Margaret The Descendants Film: The Artist British Film: We Need to Talk About Kevin Foreign-Language Film: A Separation Documentary: Senna Director: Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist Screenwriter: Asghar Farhadi – A Separation (read…)

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) directed by Joseph Sargent Walter Matthau as Lt. Zachary Garber and Dick O’Neill as Frank Correll Garber: Hey Frank! You’re hoggin’ all my circuits! Correll: Whaddya want from me? I got motormen calling me from all over the line! Garber: Well, tell ’em to shaddap and get (read…)

Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby’s Wild Life. Copyright 2011 National Film Board of Canada For decades, Best Animated Short had been one of the lesser known and underappreciated Oscar categories. That’s a great tragedy as the category always features (from America and around the world) beautifully written, drawn, and voice-acted films that are incredibly heartfelt, (read…)

I was a little less enamored of Ti West’s 70s horror throwback The House of the Devil (2009) than some, but looking back it’s one of the highlights of a genre that has recently been frustratingly unoriginal. I haven’t seen his followup, The Innkeepers, yet but I’m eager to check it out as well as (read…)

As for the two of these I’ve actually seen, Pina and A Separation, I’m ecstatic at their inclusion. We’ll see how it shakes out when the nominees are announced on January 24. Belgium, Bullhead, Michael R. Roskam Canada, Monsieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau Denmark, Superclásico, Ole Christian Madsen Germany, Pina, Wim Wenders Iran, A Separation, Asghar (read…)

With an auteur-type like Steven Soderbergh behind the wheel of a genre picture, the danger is that he’ll spend all his energies rethinking and deconstructing that genre while forgetting to deliver on the things the genre promises in the first place. Luckily, in the action-revenge picture Haywire, Soderbergh shows no such pretensions. This is a stripped down, old-school piece of work and a perfect showcase for mixed martial artist Gina Carano who has the beauty, charisma and, most importantly, the physical credibility to be a real action star. Haywire may not be high art, but it is high entertainment. Isn’t that as it should be?

Winnie the Pooh and The Honey Tree (1966) directed by Wolfgang Reitherman from the book Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne Winnie the Pooh voiced by Sterling Holloway Pooh: I like Rabbit because he uses short, easy words like “How about lunch?” and “Help yourself, Pooh.”

Way Out West (1937) directed by James W. Horne Starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy Stan: That’s the first mistake we’ve made since that guy sold us the Brooklyn Bridge. Oliver: Oh, buying that bridge was no mistake. That’s going to be worth a lot of money to us some day!

Previously best known as “that one guy from the the first Scream movie who played Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo flicks,” Matthew Lillard got a nice bounce with a juicy role in Alexander Payne’s critically beloved The Descendants as “the other man” opposite George Clooney (how unlikely is that??). Apparently someone behind Clint Eastwood’s Trouble With (read…)